Having Style

“Damn it!” Casey Donsett yelled out of complete frustration. Then, with a quick flick of the wrist, he splashed more paint onto the canvas in front of him. As he watched it splatter and run down the front of it, he knew it was not going to be acceptable. It was too much like the works of Jackson Pollock. One thing he didn’t want to be was a copycat. He wanted his own unique style. Disgusted with the results, he turned, flipped the light switch and went to bed.

The next morning, with coffee mug in hand, Casey entered the studio. He set the cup on the stool and proceeded to open the drapes, letting the bright sunlight fill the room. He picked up the cup, took a sip of coffee and studied the canvas. In the middle of drinking a mouthful of coffee, he noticed a particular patch of paint and moved to get a different perspective of it.

As he shifted positions, Casey began to see a shape taking form within the splotches of paint. He hurriedly set the cup down, grabbed the palette board squeezed a variety of colors onto it and snatched up his brush. His interest renewed, Casey feverishly set about fleshing out the image he had pictured was set in amongst the blotches of paint.

Two hours later, Casey stepped back from the canvas to view his work. He smiled knowing that it was the exact style he was looking for. To the best of his knowledge, he had not seen any other works that were similar. Before him was a wonderful looking cottage set amongst the trees while an explosion of paint surrounded it. He set the palette board and brush on the supply cart, picked up his mug and left the room. Getting away from the painting for awhile was the best thing to get an honest feel for it. When he returned home, Casey avoided going into the studio until he was ready for bed. Once again, he smiled feeling absolutely sure that this was going to be the painting to change his life.

The following day, Casey made his usual cup of coffee and stepped outside to breathe in the fresh summer breeze blowing in from the ocean not far away. Squinting from the bright sunshine, he didn’t notice at first but once his eyes adjusted, he realized that everything was wrong. Nothing was familiar. He turned to go back into the house and froze in his steps. The coffee mug dropped from his hand and shattered when it hit the ground.

Casey rubbed his eyes and looked again but the small cottage from his painting was still there. “What the hell?” he heard himself saying as he looked on in total bewilderment. He shook his head. “No, no……no, this can’t be,” he stammered.

He rushed back into the house and made his way to the studio. The scenery outside was the exact duplicate of his painting. He shook his head trying hard to comprehend what was happening to him. Disbelieving it was true; he made his way to the kitchen. He had to be dreaming. It was the only way any of it made sense. He splashed cold water on his face and head hoping it would snap him out of it.

Dripping wet, he made his way back outside and immediately spun around to view the house. Nothing had changed. He was still caught in the scene from the painting. Not one to usually give in to panic, Casey had all he could do to keep from losing control. He had to remain calm if he was to figure out what was going on and to overcome his dilemma.

He went back into the house, made a fresh hot cup of coffee and sat at the kitchen table. There had to be a reason for him seeing things the way they were because he refused to believe they were actually happening to him. It just wasn’t possible. Nor was it even logical or plausible. He looked for his phone. “Great,” he said aloud when he couldn’t find it. He wasn’t surprised by the fact, just aggravated.  It was apparent that whatever was going on, he would have to figure it out by himself.

Casey glanced toward the studio hoping something would come to mind that would make sense out of it all. He laughed to think he was trying to make sense out of something that was absolutely crazy to begin with. Crazy or not, he had to do something.

He got up and moved to the studio. He stopped at the door studied the painting and wondered how something as simple as a painting could turn his life upside down. Just then, an idea formed in his mind. What if he were to turn the picture upside down?  He thought about that for a couple minutes and decided against it, but another idea took its place almost immediately.

   (continued)

   Chelle Munroe©

   April 9, 2015